America: The Cremator

Chapter 168 My Boyfriend, Su Long.

The Cadillac Escalade slowly pulled up in front of the spacious open-air parking area. A waiter quickly stepped forward, opened the driver's side door, and welcomed Suron out.

After getting out of the car, Su Long followed Elena's instructions and walked around to the passenger side. He very gentlemanly extended his right hand to Elena, who placed her hand in his palm and used it to get out of the car.

Elena took a crisp $100 bill from her elegant coin purse, handed it to the waiter, and sent him to park the car.

Then, an old butler dressed in a well-tailored black tailcoat, wearing snow-white gloves, and with his hair neatly combed, immediately came forward.

He bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Miss Elena, welcome back to Thornwood. Mr. Rodney has been waiting at the main entrance for quite some time."

"Lead the way," Elena replied casually.

The butler led the way from the side, with Surong and Elena following side by side. After passing through the parking area, a wide lawn, manicured like a green carpet, came into view.

In the center of the lawn is a huge three-tiered fountain, the water shimmering under the illumination of concealed spotlights.

A small symphony orchestra dressed in formal attire sat under a gazebo woven from vines, playing soothing classical music.

Long buffet tables lined both sides of the lawn, covered with snow-white tablecloths and piled high with a variety of exquisite desserts, expensive caviar, and vintage champagne.

As you walk along the smooth stone path, the castle gate gradually comes into view. The gate, framed by an intricately carved brass frame, is now fully open to both sides, revealing the dazzling crystal lights inside.

Two middle-aged people, a man and a woman, stood at the gate. The man was wearing a dark gray three-piece suit with a neatly tied tie and a long black umbrella in his hand.

The woman wore a deep purple evening gown, with a pure white fox fur shawl draped over her shoulders and a necklace inlaid with a large sapphire around her neck.

Surong's activated spiritual vision swept over the two people and found that their umbrellas and necklaces were shimmering with brilliant spiritual light, the brightness of which was almost as great as the gloves in Hedley's hands.

Su Long withdrew his spiritual vision, turned his head slightly, and said in a low voice to Elena beside him, "Those two at the door are very strong; they are definitely top-tier exorcists."

Elena stared straight ahead, her lips barely moving, and replied in the same low voice, "Your judgment is quite accurate."

"The man on the left with the umbrella is my uncle, Rodney Campbell. The woman on the right is Edith Wick, a core member of Britain's first exorcist family."

"Both of them are genuine A-level exorcists."

Su Long raised an eyebrow, inwardly marveling. A-level exorcists were a rare sight, yet he had encountered two today.

"Is your Campbell family really that powerful?" Su Long teased.

Elena snorted and explained in a low voice, "Otherwise what? This exchange meeting for young talents is jointly hosted by the Wick family and our Campbell family. Their presence here represents the face and sincerity of both families."

She paused, then continued, "Moreover, the two families have prepared some competitions and small prizes. All the young exorcists who were invited are eager to make a name for themselves."

"A competition? Prizes?" Su Long's eyes lit up immediately when he heard these two words.

What he lacks most right now is resources. If the prizes include mithril coins or soul crystals, he would definitely not mind going out to stretch his muscles.

As the two were talking, they had already arrived at the castle gate.

Rodney and Edith had clearly noticed Elena approaching long ago. Rodney, as her uncle, smiled warmly, looked Elena up and down, and nodded with satisfaction: "Elena, you've finally arrived."

I thought you were going to use being too busy at work as an excuse to cancel this banquet again.

Edith smiled and spoke in a thick British accent, "Elena, you've grown more and more beautiful in the years since I last saw you. If those boys saw you now, they'd be completely smitten."

"Uncle Rodney, Aunt Edith, good evening." Elena greeted them politely, her demeanor elegant and poised, befitting a well-bred lady, a stark contrast to her decisive and efficient captain persona in the Bureau of Eerie Support.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Rodney's gaze naturally fell on Suron, who was standing next to Elena. He looked Suron up and down, his eyes filled with a scrutinizing look: "This young man is—"

Elena naturally reached out and took Su Long's arm, leaning slightly closer to him, and introduced him, "This is my boyfriend, Su Long."

Finally, she added, "He is also a Class B exorcist."

Hearing Elena's introduction, the two were somewhat surprised, especially since Su Long looked so young yet was already a B-rank exorcist, which made them even more respectful.

In the world of exorcists, strength is the only passport.

Being able to reach Rank B at the age of twenty-something means that he has the terrifying potential to reach Rank A.

Such talent would be an absolute core focus of any top-tier family.

Rodney extended his free left hand and shook hands with Suron, saying politely, "You're truly young and promising. Suron, the Campbell family always welcomes true strong individuals. Many elites of your age are here at tonight's banquet; I hope you enjoy yourself."

Edith smiled and stepped aside, agreeing, "You two look very well-matched standing together. Come on in, the banquet is about to begin."

After shaking hands with the two, Su Long took Elena's arm and stepped into the hall.

Several huge, multi-tiered crystal chandeliers hung from the dome, their dazzling yet soft light cascading down like a waterfall, illuminating the entire space. Inside the sandstone fireplace that occupied half of the wall, smokeless charcoal burned quietly, radiating even heat.

Around the fireplace and in the corners, antique walnut furniture with a sense of history is arranged in a staggered manner, along with an oak table with intricate carvings and velvet-upholstered dining chairs, showcasing the castle's century-old heritage and cultural depth.

To avoid the pure medieval style from feeling too heavy and suppressing the vitality of young people, a large number of simple white flowers were placed throughout the hall.

Large clusters of vibrant white roses, paired with a few delicate freesias, were carefully arranged in a modern geometric crystal vase. The refreshing floral fragrance perfectly neutralized the somber atmosphere of the castle, adding many vibrant and youthful details to this gathering of young exorcists.

In the center and on both sides of the hall, several semi-open meeting seats were cleverly designed using sofas and screens. Small groups of young men and women gathered together, holding exquisite wine glasses, and talked in hushed tones.

Su Long's gaze swept across the entire room, and he noticed that the most lively group of them were a few young female exorcists with striking looks and daring dresses. They wore exquisite makeup and exuded a strong attraction with every move they made. They were surrounded by men offering them drinks, and lighthearted laughter could be heard from their circles from time to time.

As the two entered the hall, countless eyes turned to them. Upon seeing who it was, most people's gazes turned to surprise, envy, or even undisguised hostility.

"It seems you're even more effective at drawing hatred from me than I expected," Su Long said to Elena in a low voice, maintaining a polite smile.

Elena chuckled softly and replied in a low voice, "The heir of the Campbell family always attracts unnecessary attention. Since you agreed to be my shield, you have to bear the consequences."

Su Long chuckled and casually bent his arm slightly, letting Elena hold on tighter: "Since we're going to act, let's make it more convincing. Just now at the door, you personally admitted that I'm your boyfriend. If others see through this, the Campbell family will lose face."

Elena paused for a moment, then turned her head away, forcing herself to remain calm as she looked ahead.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the two walked slowly toward the lounge area in the center of the hall. A waiter steadily approached them with a tray, on which were placed several brightly colored cocktails and several plates of exquisitely crafted French desserts.

Each of them took a cocktail from the tray, and Elena also took a small plate of desserts. Sulong gently swirled the azure liquid in his glass, then lowered his head and took a sip.

The first taste is a refreshing fruity aroma, followed by a slight alcoholic sensation. As it flows down the throat, you can also feel an extremely pure spiritual power melting on the tip of your tongue.

This is clearly a low-alcohol beverage specially formulated for exorcists. It tastes excellent, won't make one look foolish, and can slowly restore one's mental energy.

"It tastes good," Su Long commented, taking another sip. He then picked up a small French dessert and popped it into his mouth. The sweet taste exploded in his mouth, giving his stomach, which was protesting because he hadn't eaten dinner, a little comfort.

After enjoying the drinks and desserts, Surong turned to Elena and asked, "What's going on here? Everyone's just chatting and it seems so casual. It doesn't feel like an exorcist's gathering at all."

Elena moistened her throat with the wine and explained in a low voice, "This is a social gathering before the formal dinner. It's a place for everyone to relax, get to know each other, and expand their networks. Many young exorcists are usually on missions in various places and rarely have the opportunity to meet. This is a good opportunity for them to exchange information."

She paused for a moment, then explained the follow-up to the banquet to Su Long: "The social reception will last about an hour, followed by the formal banquet. After the banquet, there will be a trading ball where everyone can privately exchange rare spiritual materials or exclusive information. Once all these procedures are completed, there will be a small competition organized by the organizers to liven up the atmosphere."

"There are so many tricks to it." Su Long sighed, then looked around aimlessly, his gaze sweeping casually over the well-dressed men and women. Soon, his eyes stopped on a secluded corner near the French windows.

It was a young man sitting in a high-backed armchair. From the moment Su Long and Elena entered, many people in the hall had their eyes drawn to the two of them, but this young man didn't even raise his head once.

Su Long scrutinized the man. He had a head of slightly messy brown hair and wore a well-tailored dark gray trench coat, making him stand out from the others who were wearing tuxedos or formal suits.

He lowered his head, his gray eyes focused intently on a black notebook in his hands, his fingers occasionally tracing the pages as if reading the words.

Most striking was the silver, engraved M1911 pistol hanging at his waist. The intricate engravings on the gun exuded a cold and deadly mechanical beauty.

He sat there quietly, yet exuded a sense of detachment, as if he were indifferent to everything around him.

Su Long lowered his head slightly, leaned close to Elena's ear, and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear: "See that person in the corner?"

Elena followed his gaze, her eyes lingering for a moment on the brown-haired young man. She asked, puzzled, "I saw him. What's wrong?"

"Judging from his demeanor, I can tell he's definitely a master," Su Long said with certainty.

Elena raised an eyebrow, looking at Su Long with some curiosity: "From this distance, he didn't even leak out a trace of spiritual energy. How did you know?"

Su Long's lips curled into a smile as he answered seriously, "Because he has the same kind of temperament as me, a pretentious temperament."

Elena pursed her lips speechlessly, then secretly tightened her grip on Su Long's arm, pinching his forearm through the fabric of his suit to express her displeasure.

Su Long remained unfazed, letting her pinch him.

His earlier remark was, of course, a joke. What truly convinced him that the other person was a master was the notebook in his hand and the pistol at his waist.

In his spiritual vision, the light emanating from these two objects was ridiculously bright, almost blinding Su Long.

To be able to carry two top-tier sacred artifacts with such terrifying spiritual light on one's person and expose them without any concealment, allowing others to examine them, this is definitely the mark of a highly skilled individual with immense confidence.

"Ring ring—"

The clear, silvery sound of bells echoed through the hall, interrupting Su Long's thoughts. The old butler stood in the center of the hall, bowed slightly, and said, "The banquet is ready. Please take your seats, guests."

The conversations inside quickly subsided, and the crowd moved orderly toward the banquet hall.

The banquet hall is very spacious, with a long oak dining table in the center that can accommodate dozens of people.

Three giant crystal chandeliers overhead cast a dazzling light, illuminating the silver cutlery and crystal wine glasses on the table. Each seat had a personalized place card written in cursive script placed in front of it.

As the hosts of the dinner, Hedley and Valerie, the matriarch of the Vic family, came out accompanied by Rodney and Edith, and sat at the head and center seats at opposite ends of the long table.

The remaining young participants were scattered among the seats, clearly to weaken the barriers of family hierarchy and encourage young exorcists from different regions and backgrounds to exchange ideas.

Surong quickly found his seat card; it was quite close to the front, the third seat to Hedley's right. He walked to the chair and very gentlemanly pulled it out for Elena beside him. Only after Elena gracefully sat down, lifting the hem of her emerald green dress, did he sit down in the empty seat next to her.

The atmosphere at the long table maintained a restrained and proper social ambiance until Hedley, at the head of the table, picked up her silver cutlery and lightly tapped the edge of her plate, producing a crisp sound, officially marking the start of the dinner.

The waiters moved silently behind the guests, serving seven simple yet exquisite dishes in sequence.

The meal begins with a cold appetizer of oysters and caviar, followed by cream of mushroom soup, grilled cod, refreshing snow salad, a main course of filet mignon or roast chicken, a cheese platter, and finally, a beautifully presented dessert with hot tea.

Surong cut the steak in front of him with very elegant movements. He ate quickly but without any rudeness. However, this amount of food was not enough to satisfy him.

The four-star [Flesh and Blood Dominator] granted him a powerful physique, but also brought terrifying energy consumption. These few thin slices of meat and a small spoonful of caviar were simply not enough to satisfy his body's cravings.

Elena keenly sensed his state, turned her head slightly, and asked in a low voice, "What's wrong? Not to your liking?"

Su Long put down his knife and fork and replied softly, "The taste is indeed excellent, but the portion is too small; it's not enough."

Elena poked her high heel out from under the table and lightly touched Su Long's calf, remarking, "How many people come to this kind of banquet just to eat their fill?"

Throughout the dinner, the young guests' conversations revolved around their European vacation experiences, art exhibitions by renowned artists, or harmless anecdotes from their social circles. Everyone tacitly avoided discussing money, controversial politics, specific exorcism procedures, and negative industry cases, maintaining the decorum expected of the upper class.

Sitting opposite Su Long was a young man in a burgundy velvet suit, with an extravagant solid gold brooch on his chest. He glanced at Su Long several times before finally speaking up, "Mr. Su Long, I heard you just passed the B-level exorcist exam?"

Several young guests around stopped eating and turned to look at them.

Su Long leaned back in his chair, casually toying with a silver spoon in his long, slender fingers, and replied nonchalantly, "Just lucky, I barely made it through."

The man in the burgundy suit was clearly not satisfied with this perfunctory answer. He leaned forward slightly, probing further into Su Long's background: "To obtain a B-level license at this age is not something that can be achieved by luck alone. May I ask what type of exorcism Mr. Su Long possesses? Contract type, relic type, or the rare bloodline type?"

The moment this question was asked, the atmosphere at the table became somewhat awkward. Directly asking someone about their type of exorcism was considered a bit of a breach of boundaries in the community.

Elena frowned, about to speak up to deflect the rude question for him, but Su Long raised his hand under the table and pressed down on the back of her hand, stopping her first. Then, meeting the gaze of the person opposite him, he calmly said, "I am a dual-type exorcist of bloodline and sacred artifact."

Upon hearing this, the young people who had been eavesdropping nearby all froze.

In the world of exorcists, single-type exorcists are the absolute mainstream. While dual-type exorcists are not entirely nonexistent, they are extremely rare. Each of them has extremely strong growth potential and a high ceiling of strength, making them an overwhelming force among their peers.

The man in the burgundy suit was taken aback by the answer. He was both shocked and resentful. He had originally wanted to use his family background to put this wild kid who had appeared out of nowhere in his place, but he never expected to kick a hornet's nest.

He could only manage a dry laugh, raising his glass to hide his embarrassment: "Dual type—truly an amazing talent, Mr. Suron has a bright future ahead of him."

After saying this compliment, he wisely shut his mouth and didn't ask any more questions.